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The Role of Risk Perception in Flu Vaccine Behavior among African‐American and White Adults in the United States

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  • Vicki S. Freimuth
  • Amelia Jamison
  • Gregory Hancock
  • Donald Musa
  • Karen Hilyard
  • Sandra Crouse Quinn

Abstract

Seasonal flu vaccination rates are low for U.S. adults, with significant disparities between African and white Americans. Risk perception is a significant predictor of vaccine behavior but the research on this construct has been flawed. This study addressed critical research questions to understand the differences between African and white Americans in the role of risk perception in flu vaccine behavior: (1) What is the dimensionality of risk perception and does it differ between the two races? (2) Were risk perceptions of white and African‐American populations different and how were sociodemographic characteristics related to risk for each group? (3) What is the relation between risk perception and flu vaccine behaviors for African Americans and whites? The sample, drawn from GfK's Knowledge Panel, consisted of 838 whites and 819 African Americans. The survey instrument was developed from qualitative research. Measures of risk perception included cognitive and emotional measures of disease risk and risk of side effects from the vaccine. The online survey was conducted in March 2015. Results showed the importance of risk perception in the vaccine decision‐making process for both racial groups. As expected, those who got the vaccine reported higher disease risk than those who did not. Separate cognitive and emotional factors did not materialize in this study but strong evidence was found to support the importance of considering disease risk as well as risk of the vaccine. There were significant racial differences in the way risk perception predicted behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Vicki S. Freimuth & Amelia Jamison & Gregory Hancock & Donald Musa & Karen Hilyard & Sandra Crouse Quinn, 2017. "The Role of Risk Perception in Flu Vaccine Behavior among African‐American and White Adults in the United States," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(11), pages 2150-2163, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:37:y:2017:i:11:p:2150-2163
    DOI: 10.1111/risa.12790
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    1. Meng Wang & Mengying Li & Xinghui Li & Xiaoli Chen & Feng Jiang & Kezhong A & Zhiguo Wang & Liping Zhang & Yihan Lu & Wenjia Peng & Weibing Wang & Chaowei Fu & Ying Wang, 2022. "Intention and Attitude to Accept a Pertussis Cocooning Vaccination among Chinese Children’s Guardians: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Seunghoo Lim & Hiromi Nakazato, 2020. "The Emergence of Risk Communication Networks and the Development of Citizen Health-Related Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Selection and Contagion Processes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Talia Goren & Dana R. Vashdi & Itai Beeri, 2022. "Count on trust: the indirect effect of trust in government on policy compliance with health behavior instructions," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 55(4), pages 593-630, December.
    4. David Crainich & Louis Eeckhoudt & Mario Menegatti, 2019. "Vaccination as a trade-off between risks," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 5(3), pages 455-472, October.
    5. Caserotti, Marta & Girardi, Paolo & Rubaltelli, Enrico & Tasso, Alessandra & Lotto, Lorella & Gavaruzzi, Teresa, 2021. "Associations of COVID-19 risk perception with vaccine hesitancy over time for Italian residents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    6. Dominic H. P. Balog-Way & Darrick Evensen & Ragnar E. Löfstedt, 2020. "Pharmaceutical Benefit–Risk Perception and Age Differences in the USA and Germany," Drug Safety, Springer, vol. 43(11), pages 1141-1156, November.
    7. Wang, Yu & Choudhury, Charisma & Hancock, Thomas O. & Wang, Yacan & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2024. "Influence of perceived risk on travel mode choice during Covid-19," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 181-191.
    8. Liu, Xin & Zhao, Ning & Li, Shu & Zheng, Rui, 2022. "Opt-out policy and its improvements promote COVID-19 vaccinations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

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